Crankcase spray device



Feb. 4, 1964 H, A LANG CRANKCASE SPRAY DEVICE Filed March l5, 1961 N .mi

IN V EN TOR.

A T TORNE Y United States Patent O 3,l2i`:,237 CRANKCASE SPRAY DEWFCE Henry A. Lang, Crystal Lake, ill., assigner to The Pure Gil Company, Chicago, ill., a corporation of @iii-o Filed Mar. 15, 1%1, Ser. No. 95,38% l@ Claims. (Ci. lli-id.)

This invention relates to a spray device which may be adjusted to spray in diiferent directions, and lmore particularly, to a spray device for removing sludge accumulations -from internal-combustion-engine crankcases without necessitating the partial disassembly of the engine.

In order to maintain a high degree of eliciency and maximum life of an internal combustion engine, it is necessary to periodically remove from the cranlicase the residues and deposits Vformed by the lubricating oil during use. Merely draining the used oil from the crankcase does not remove the sludge accumulations from the bottom of the oil pan, the oil-pump screen, the pushrod housings, and other surfaces in the crankcase. Heretofore, the elimination of the deleterious residues and deposits from the crankcase was possible only by the removal of the oil pan and/or other cover portions of the engine. As a result of the costly and time-consuming partial disassembly of the engine which was necessary, the sludge accumulations were not usually removed as frequently as was essential for maximum engine efficiency and life.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an apparatus for removing sludge accumulations from internal-combustion-engine crankcases without disassemblying the engines.

Another object of this invention is to provide a spray device having a iiexible .conduit which may be adjusted to spray in different directions.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device for spraying all portions of the interior of a vessel by inserting the device in an opening in the vessel and varying the direction of the spray, the device having a means for removing iluid from the vessel.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

In accordance with this invention, sludge accumulations can be removed from the crankcase of an internal combustion engine without the removal of the oil pan and/ or other cover portions of the engine. This is accomplished by the use of a spray device which is adapted for being partially inserted in the drain opening of the oil pan and secured thereto. The spray device has a nozzle mounted on the end of a flexible conduit biased for angular movement and slidable in a guide. The direction of the spray is varied by either rotating the flexible conduit or sliding it backward and forward into and out of the guide, or doing both simultaneously, it being biased gradually toward a right-angle position as it slides out of and is unsupported by the guide.

The apparatus in one embodiment is illustrated more fully in the drawing in which,

FIGURE l is a cross-sectional view, and

FIGURE Z is a side view in partial cross-section to illustrate the manner in which the apparatus of this invention is used.

Referring to .FIGURE l, guide S is composed of housing itl coupled with extension 12 by means of internally threaded collar 14 which threads on to the end of housing it) to form a swivel joint. Extension 12 is formed with a liange 16 to cooperate with collar 14. Flexible conduit .1.8 and rigid shaft 2t?, to the end of which dexible conduit 13 is secured, are slidably and rotatably positioned within guide 8. The external diameter of flexible conduit 18 is smaller than the internal diameter of extension i2, thereby forming an annular space 22. Noz- Zle 24 is mounted at the end of flexible conduit 18 and communicates with longitudinal passageway 26 in rigid shaft 29. Passageway 26 communicates with chamber 28 in housing it) by apertures 3G. As knob 36 mounted on the end of shaft 2i) is pushed, exible conduit l is forced out of extension 12. Leaf spring 3S within ilexible conduit 18 causes flexible conduit i8 to bend, the outlet end of exible conduit 18 being bent at an angle of to the longitudial axis of shaft 20 when it is fully projected out of extension 12. Extension 12 is provided with external threads 4t) for mating with the drain opening in oil pan 42. Shoulder 44 on extension i2 bears against soft washer 45 to form a seal against oil pan 42.

Pressurized air is introduced through connection 4S and passageway Si?. The air picks up solvent by aspiration, the solvent being introduced through connection 52 and passageway 54. The pressurized air-solvent mixture passes into chamber 2S and thence through apertures 39, longitudinal bore 26 in rigid shaft 2G, iiexible conduit i8 and nozzle 24. Drain opening 56 in extension 12 communicates with chamber S3 by annulus 22.. Chamber S3 is provided with drain connection 6d. It will be apparent that when in use, drain opening 56 will be located within the crankcase.

Referring to FIGURE 2, the mode of operation of the invention is illustrated. At the time of a normal periodic change of oil in the crankcase of an automotive engine, the drain plug is removed and the dirty oil is drained. Forward portion on extension 12 is inserted in oil pan 42 and screwed into the drain opening. Adapter bushings are provided to mate with the various internal threads in the oil-pan `drain openings of the dierent automotive manufacturers. Air and ysolvent are introduced through connections 4S and 52, respectively, with the rigid shaft Et in the full rearward position. Rigid shaft 2d is slowly moved forward by applying pressure to knob 36 while rotating it. Pointer 62 on knob 36 is aligned with leaf spring 3S to indicate the direction of the spray as rigid shaft 2d is rotated, thereby assuring that the entire interior of the crankcase is sprayed. The sludge accumulations dissolved in the solvent are drained out of the crankcase through connection v6G. This procedure is repeated as often as necessary until the solvent in the drain line is clear. Any remaining solvent is drained from the cranltcase. After all the solvent has been removed, the drain plug is replaced and clean oil is put into the engine.

Any solvent capable of dissolving and/ or dispersing the residues and deposits formed by lubricating oil during use may be used with the apparatus of this invention. Compounds having good properties include certain esters, alcohols and ketones and mixtures thereof. Examples are ethyl butyl acetate, methyl amyl acetate, methylethyl ketone and ethyl alcohol.

Although the invention has been described in relation to the specific embodiments shown in the drawings, these are not to be construed as limiting the scope thereof.

ln general, the invention is intended to encompass a spray device having a flexible conduit which may be adjusted to spray in various directions. Mechanical embodiments may be changed without departing from the invention. The conduit may be iiiexible and either biased for angular movement by any suitable means, such as a leaf or coil spring, or the inherent nature of the conduit may be such as to normally assume an angular position when unguided. The conduit may be made of any flexible material such as flexible metal tubing, neoprene, rubber, plastic, and the like, the only limitation being that it will not be affected by the solvent used. The conduit may also be of rigid segments connected by Afluid-tight joints, such as ball-and-socketV joints, and biased for angular movement.

As an alternative construction, the external threads on the Vextension may be substituted with other means f for securing the device to the oil pan, such as a clamp arrangement, thereby eliminating the necessity of adaptor bushings to mate with the various threads of dilerent automotive manufacturers, The fluid source may be connected to the housing, illustrated in the drawings, or may be directiy connected to the shaft by suitable means, as for example, by a duid-tight swivel joint.

As an alternative mode of use, either the solvent r gas connection may be capped or eliminated, with pressurized solvent being supplied from an external source through the other connection.

The use of the device of this invention is not limited to remove sludge accumulations from internal combustion engine crankcases. It is apparent that it will have other applications in instances requiring a `device which may be adjusted to spray a duid in various directions.

The embodiments of therinvention in which an exelusive property of priviiege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A `spray device comprising, in combination, a guide member, a conduit means slidabiy and rotatably mounted in said guide member, said conduit means having an inlet port-ion and a flexible outlet end, and means biasing said outlet end angularly with respect to its position when within said guide member upon movement of said outlet end beyond said guide member, said Vconduit means being rotatably mounted such that the radial direction of movement of said outlet end upon movement beyond said guide member is varied by rotation of said conduit means.

2. A spray device in accordance with claim 1 having hand-actuated means for moving said conduitrmeans in said guide member.

3. A spray device in accordance with claim 2 for spraying fluid in the interior of a vessel having an opening through a wall thereof, wherein said guide member has a forward portion, having a drain inlet, adapted for partial insertion through an opening in a lwall of a vessel such that said drain inlet is located within said vessel, a rearwardportion, having a drain outlet, and a drain conduit connecting said drain inlet and drain outlet, and said flexible outletY end is adapted to be moved out of said forward end upon actuation of said hand-actuated means.

4. A spray device in accordance with claim 3 wherein said conduit means is secured to a movable rigid shaft having an end extending out of said rearward portion for hand actuation.

5. A spray device in accordance with claim 4 wherein said rearward portion includes a plurality of passage-V ways adapted to ybe connected to a plurality of sources of duid, `said plurality of passageways communicating with said inlet portion. Y

6. A spray device in accordance with claim 5 wherein said conduit is angularly biased by a spring.

7. A spray device in accordance with claim 6 wherein said spring is positioned -within said conduit.

8. A spray device in accordance with claim 7 wherein a knob having indicating means, aligned with said spring to indicate the radial direction in which said flexible outlet end is pointed, is secured to the end of said rigid shaft extending out of said rearward portion.

9. A spray device in accordance with claim S including means for holding said forward portion, with a part thereof inserted through an opening in a wall of a vessel, in sealed relationship with said wall.

10. A spray device comprising, in combination, a guide member having supporting wail portions, conduit means slidably held by said Wall portions and having an inlet end and a iiexible outlet end, and means biasing said outlet end anguiarly with respect to its position when within said guide member upon movement of said outlet end beyond said guide member, said conduit means also being rotatably held by said wall portions such thattne radi direction of movement of said outlet end upon movement beyond said guide member is varied by Vrotation of said conduit means. v

References Cited in the le of this patent UNTED STATES PATENTS 865,355 Gallmann et al Sept. 10, 1907 1,552,998 Menge Sept. 8, 1925 1,727,962 Buskard Sept. 1G, 1929 1,806,749 Butterworth May 26, 1931 1,940,566 Peck Dec. 19, 1933 1,951,649 Delano Mar. 20, 1934 2,926,359 Bertscliinger Nov. 12, 1935 2,213,489 Wills Sept. 3, 1940 2,443,721 Butcher i-une 22, 1948 2,554,339 StevensV li/iay 22, 1951 2,896,645 -iwasaki July 28, 1959 2,954,038 GirardV Sept. 2S, 1960` FOREGN PATENTS 20,552/29 Australia Dec. 24, 1929 847,508 Germany Aug. 25,V 1952 

1. A SPRAY DEVICE COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A GUIDE MEMBER, A CONDUIT MEANS, SLIDABLY AND ROTATABLY MOUNTED IN SAID GUIDE MEMBER, SAID CONDUIT MEANS HAVING AN INLET PORTION AND A FLEXIBLE OUTLET END, AND MEANS BIASING SAID OUTLET END ANGULARLY WITH RESPECT TO ITS POSITION WHEN WITHIN SAID GUIDE MEMBER UPON MOVEMENT OF SAID OUTLET END BEYOND SAID GUIDE MEMBER, SAID CONDUIT MEANS BEING ROTATABLY MOUNTED SUCH THAT THE RADIAL DIRECTION OF MOVE- 